Welcome to the Consumerist Archives

Thanks for visiting Consumerist.com. As of October 2017, Consumerist is no longer producing new content, but feel free to browse through our archives. Here you can find 12 years worth of articles on everything from how to avoid dodgy scams to writing an effective complaint letter. Check out some of our greatest hits below, explore the categories listed on the left-hand side of the page, or head to CR.org for ratings, reviews, and consumer news.

My how things change overnight. Yesterday, we told you about the far-from-loony folks at the American Family Association who had called for their members to boycott Dick’s Sporting Goods because the retail chain used the word “holiday” instead of “Christmas” for its November and December sales circulars. Now the AFA has announced that it’s called off the boycott because Dick’s will be using that word after all.

Reads a letter sent from AFA chief Tim Wildmon:

Dick’s Sporting Goods has told AFA that “Christmas” will become a huge part of their advertising beginning November 28.

According to Vice-Chairman Bill Columbo, in a phone conference with AFA today, “We have made significant changes from past years, when ‘holiday’ was the dominant theme of our advertising.” Mr. Columbo told AFA that these changes were already in the works prior to AFA’s boycott announcement. He apologized for not returning AFA’s phone calls and letters earlier to convey this message.

Dick’s issued a statement to AFA and its pro-Christmas supporters, outlining their plans to incorporate “Christmas” in their advertising:

– Beginning November 28, Sunday newspaper inserts will read “Christmas 2010.” It will continue each Sunday through Christmas.

– Dick’s website will display the Christmas message prior to the first insert (next week) in time for Thanksgiving day.

– Television commercials running after November 28th will also refer to Christmas season.

As a result of Dick’s response, AFA is cancelling the boycott.

It is amazing to see the culture change that is occurring inside corporate board rooms. All across America, companies are coming to realize they should include Christ and Christmas in their advertising.

As you can see from the above screengrab, Dick’s has already changed their site to say “Christmas Shop,” where not even 24 hours ago it read “Holiday Shop.”

This development leaves the following Scrooges on the AFA’s “Companies Against ‘Christmas'” list:
Barnes & Noble
CVS Pharmacy
Office Depot
Radio Shack
Staples
SUPERVALU
Victoria’s Secret

We wanted to know from you whether or not it matters if a sale is a “Holiday” sale or a “Christmas” sale. So have your say in the comments and vote in the poll below: